Russians shells Gori despite claims Georgia conflict is over

Russian forces have shelled the strategically important Georgian town of Gori, an attack that represented a significant escalation in Moscow's military offensive even as Kremlin leaders were announcing a cessation of hostilities.

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A Georgian family leave the town of Gori following the shelling of the cityPhoto: GETTY/AFP

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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev makes a nationwide TV address from the KremlinPhoto: AP

The artillery barrage – the first against Gori since the five-day conflict began – suggested that, despite denials in Moscow, Russian ground troops had advanced into undisputed Georgian territory from South Ossetia. Gori, a town of about 70,000 people that was the birth place of Stalin, lies 15 miles south of Georgia's internal border with the breakaway region.

A Dutch journalist was killed and another wounded after a fragmentation shell exploded outside a press centre where western reporters in Gori, including reporters for The Daily Telegraph, have based themselves since the conflict began.

The explosion shattered windows and embedded walls in neighbouring buildings with shrapnel. It also destroyed the sole shop that had remained open in Gori in order to provide reporters with food and drink.

Russian shells also struck apartment blocks in the main square in an apparent attempt to destroy Gori's town hall. Only one elderly woman was living in the block as all her neighbours fled yesterday when the Georgian military abandoned the town without firing a shot during a chaotic retreat to the capital Tbilisi.

Other buildings on the outskirts of the town were also damaged or destroyed in the assault, which witnesses said killed at least six people.

But, contrary to Georgian government claims, there were no Russian ground troops in the town.

Although Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, ordered an end to his country's military operations in Georgia, there was no immediate sign that Russia's assault had ended.

Over half an hour after Mr Medvedev gave his ceasefire order, The Daily Telegraph saw three Russian helicopters fire nine missiles at targets 25 miles north of Tbilisi. It was not immediately clear what they were shooting at.